Friction washes

ABSTRACT

Curtains of ribbon portions suspended into a path of a car from a frame are reciprocated edgewise and oscillated facewise by a hinge suspension of the central portion of the frame and a crank drive connected to one end of the frame to cause gentle slapping and scraping actions of the ribbon portions on the car.

United States Patent Welter 1 FRICTION WASHES [75] Inventor: Jeff Welter, Vancouver, Wash.

[73] Assignee: Daniel C. Hanna, Portland, Oreg. 22 Filed: Jan. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 321,680

[52] US. Cl. 15/97 R, lS/DIG. 2 [51] Int. Cl. B605 3/00 [58] Field of Search.....-. 15/97 R,'DlG. 2, 21B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,499,180 Hurwitz 15/97 R July 30,1974

3,711,883 1/1973 Ennis 15/97 R Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin Attorney, Agent, or FirmK1arquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston [57] ABSTRACT Curtains of ribbon portions suspended into a path of a car from a frame are reciprocated. edgewise and oscillated facewise by a hinge suspension of the central portion of the frame and a crank drive connected to one end: of the frame to cause gentle slapping and scraping actions of the ribbon portions on the car.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 FRICTION WASI-IES DESCRIPTION This invention relates to improved friction washes,

sions and drives for friction wash carrier frames of existing friction washes adapted to be easily installed and to impart reciprocating and oscillating movements to the carrier frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved friction wash'having apivotal arm suspending from'a mounting frame anelongated carrier frame for reciprocating and oscillating movements and a crank drive for effecting such movements.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an improved friction wash forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an improved friction wash forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken along line '66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an improved friction wash forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, front elevation view of the improved friction wash of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line99 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein an improved friction wash forming one embodiment of the invention and including an arch 10 mounted in a car wash. Sheets 11, 12 and 13 having at least the lower portions slit vertically into strips or ribbons 14 are carried by a rigid carrier frame 15 having clamps clamping the upper end portions of the ter of one side thereof, and a hydraulic motor 24 on a cross-member 25 near one end of the frame 22. A short hinge 26 in the form of a thick rubber sheet secured by bolts or rivets 27 to the bracket 23 is secured by bolts or rivets 28 to an arm or link 29 connected by a radialand-thrust bearing 33 mounted on a plate 34 fixed to the central portion of the carrier frame 15. The arm 29 permits endwise reciprocation of andalso oscillation of the carrier frameThe clamps 20 are mounted on end members 31 of the carrier frame 15, which also includes a second bowed longitudinal side member 32. The link 26 supports the carrier frame. The motor 24 includes asha ft 40 to which is keyed a crank arm 41 connectedby a pin 42 (FIG. 4) to a pillow block bearing 43 bolted to one end member 31 of the carrier frame 15.

' OPERATION As' a car is advanced through the arch 10, it engages the ribbons -14 and soapy water is applied to the car. The motor 24 rotates the crank arm 41, which pushes and pulls the carrier frame longitudinally of the carrier frame and also moves the adjacent end of the carrier EMBODIMENT 0F FIGS. 5 AND 6 A friction wash forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes a carrier frame 65 carrying sheets 61 like the sheets 11, 12 and 13 and pivotally or hingedly supported by a link 76 pivotally connected to bearings 63 and 64 on arch 60 and a bearing 69. The bearing 63 is mounted onthe top of the box-like crossframe 71 6f the arch, and the bearing 64 is of the pillow block type and is mounted on the lower portion of one end of the frame 7l.--A pin 72 welded to the link 76 is I like the motor 24, drives the frame 65 through a crank sheets. The sheets preferably are of inside-outside carpeting material such as, for example, that sold under the trademark OZITE, and the slitting forms sharp corners on the ribbons which give a gentle scraping action. The ribbons are from 4 to 6 inches wide and are several feet long so that, while the ribbons of each sheet tend The arch 10 includes legs 21 supporting a box-like frame 22-carrying rigidly a clevis bracket 23 at the cenarm 91, and a bearing 93, and the motion of the frame 65 is substantially identical to that of the frame 15. The bearings 63, 64 and 69'and the link 76 form an easily installed loose hinge capable of supporting previously installed carrier frames.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7-10 A friction wash forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes a carrier frame 104 having bowed outer tubular members'l06 and two straight 'inner tubular members 108, all welded at their ends to tubular end members and 112. Slit scrubbing sheets 114, like the sheets 61, are secured to the members 106 and 108 by clamping strips 116 bolted to the members 106 and 108. A cross plate 118 welded to the members 106 and 108 supports a post 120 bolted thereto. An end bracket 122 welded to end member 110 has a pillow block bearing 124 bolted thereto.

A box-like mouting frame is supported by legs 132 to form an arch, and includes top and bottom rectping, twisting and gentle scraping action. Water is 3 angular frames 133 and 134 welded to. vertical corner posts 136, and angularly extending, rigidifying braces 138 and 140. The sides and ends of the frames 133 and 134 .are of angle members. A bearing post 142 is clamped by top and bottom split clamps or brackets 144 and 146, which are welded to the central portion of one side .of the frame 130. Radial-and-thrust bearings 148 and 150 are supported by collars 152 and 154 pinned to the post 142 and mounted in and supporting tube 156. A cap 158 covers the upper end of the tube. A wide arm 160 is welded to one side of the tube 156 and to one side of a tube 162 holding a radial bearing 164 on the post 120 and a radial-and-thrust bearing- 166 supporting the post 120. A nut 168 screwed onto upper end of the post 120 holds the bearing 166 on the post. A cap 178 fits snugly on the upper end of the tube 16k, Othus, the carrier frame is supported by the arm 160 at the central portion of the carrier frame from the mounting frame for pivotal movement. This enables the carrier frame to substantially reciprocate longitudinally and to be oscillated about the tube 162 when driven by a crank drive180.

The crank drive 180 reciprocates and oscillates the carrier frame and the scrubbing sheets to effect a slapsprayed onto the sheets by pipes 182 and 184 carrying nozzles 186 and supported by pairs of brackets 188 on the upper frame 133. The crank drive 180 includes a hydraulic motor 190 bolted to a cross plate 192 welded to the lower frame 134. The motor 190 turns a crank arm 194 connected by a pin 196 to the pillow block bearing 124 of the carriage frame 104.

The box-like mounting frame 130 and the components carried thereby may be installed in a pre-existing car wash, or the components carried by the mounting wrame may se easily znstalled in pre-existing 4ounting frame similar to the frame 130. The frame 130 is adapted to serve as a skeletal shipping box as well as to mount the friction wash.

What is claimed is:

1. In a friction wash,

an elongated carrier frame,

a plurality of elongated strand-like cleaning members suspended from the carrier frame, suspension means suspending the carrier frame for longitudinal reciprocating movement and for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane,

and drive means for reciprocating and pivoting the carrier frame in said plane. 7

2. The friction wash subject matter of claim 1 wherein the suspension means comprises aloose hinge.

3. The friction wash subject matter of claim 2 wherein the hinge includes a thick sheet of resilient material.

4. The friction wash subject matter of claim 2 wherein the hinge comprises a pair of bearings and a link connected pivotally to the bearings.

5. The friction wash subject matter of claim 4 wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame. I 6. The friction wash subject matter of claim wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame.

7. The friction wash subject matter of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame.

8. The friction wash subject matter of claim 7 wherein the suspension means is connected pivotally to the central portion of the carrier frame.

9. In a friction wash,

an overhead frame,

a carrier frame,

a mounting post attachable to and detachable from the central portion of the carrier frame,

a pair of bearings supporting the post and the carrier frame and mounting the post rotatably,

a link having at one end an elongated tubular bearing holder supporting the bearings at the ends thereof,

a pair of bearing means,

bracket means attachable to and detachable from the overhead frame and supporting the bearing means in aligned, vertically spaced apart positions,

the link also having an elongated vertical pin at the other end thereof supported for thrust and rotation by the pair of bearing means,

and drive means attachable to and detachable fro the frames for reciprocating the carrier frame, whereby the carrier'frame is oscillated by the link as the carrier frame is reciprocated.

1 0. The friction wash subject matter of claim 9 wherein the drive means includes a motor and a crank.

verarm. 

1. In a friction wash, an elongated carrier frame, a plurality of elongated strand-like cleaning members suspended from the carrier frame, suspension means suspending the carrier frame for longitudinal reciprocating movement and for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, and drive means for reciprocating and pivoting the carrier frame in said plane.
 2. The friction wash subject matter of claim 1 wherein the suspension means comprises a loose hinge.
 3. The friction wash subject matter of claim 2 wherein the hinge includes a thick sheet of resilient material.
 4. The friction wash subject matter of claim 2 wherein the hinge comprises a pair of bearings and a link connected pivotally to the bearings.
 5. The friction wash subject matter of claim 4 wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame.
 6. The friction wash subject matter of claim 3 wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame.
 7. The friction wash subject matter of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a crank drive connected to one end of the carrier frame.
 8. The friction wash subject matter of claim 7 wherein the suspension means is connected pivotally to the central portion of the carrier frame.
 9. In a friction wash, an overhead frame, a carrier frame, a mounting post attachable to and detachable from the central portion of the carrier frame, a pair of bearings supporting the post and the carrier frame and mounting the post rotatably, a link having at one end an elongated tubular bearing holder supporting the bearings at the ends thereof, a pair of bearing means, bracket means attachable to and detachable from the overhead frame and supporting the bearing means in aligned, vertically spaced apart positions, the link also having an elongated vertical pin at the other end thereof supported for thrust and rotation by the pair of bearing means, and drive means attachable to and detachable from the frames for reciprocating the carrier frame, whereby the carrier frame is oscillated by the link as the carrier frame is reciprocated.
 10. The friction wash subject matter of claim 9 wherein the drive means includes a motor and a crank.
 11. The friction wash subject matter of claim 8 wherein the suspension means comprises a substantially horizontal linkage forming a cantilever support for the carrier frame.
 12. The friction wash subject matter of claim 1 wherein the suspension means comprises a pivotally supported cantilever arm, and means pivotally supporting the carrier frame on the pivotally supported cantilever arm. 